Game



Dec. 31, 1946.

P. T. OBRIEN GAME Filed May 1,1945

O'Brien IN V EN TOR.

Patented Dec. 31, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to games and more especially to articles to be used in lieu of ordinary playing cards but with which various card games can be played.

It is an object of the invention to provide a game device made up of relatively movable mem bers whereby the values appearing on these elements can be concealed while the game devices are being dealt so that said devices can be drawn and laid upon the table indiscriminately without revealing their values.

A further object is to provide game devices which can easily be held and, while held, can be adjusted to reveal to the holder the values displayed thereon.

Another object is to provide game devices which can be held within a container and shaken for the purpose of shuflling them after which they can be withdrawn from the container in proper succession by the dealer or by the individual players.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of the game devices opened as when being held by a player.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the opposite side of the game device.

Figure 3 is an edge view.

Figure 4 is an elevation showing the game device closed as it appears at the time of shufiling and dealing.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is an elevation of a container in which are located the game devices to be dealt.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, I and 2 designate elongated splints which can be of wood, heavy paper board, or other suitable material. These splints are pivotally joined between their ends by a rivet 3 or other desired means and displayed on the inner side of the splint I, near one end, is a. design and/or character designating the value and suit to which the particular game device belongs. There is nothing displayed on the inner side of the splint 2 and as the two splints are of the same size it will be obvious that when they are placed in parallel relation, one over the other, the data displayed on the splint I will be concealed by the splint 2. The other ends of the two splints are preferably tapered as indicated at 4 and the outer surface of the tapered end of splint 2 can be given a distinguishing color as shown at 5 so that when the game device is held in the hand this distinguished end will indicate that the data is dis played on the other splint and will only be exposed to the holder of the game device, provided said distinguished end 5 is in view of the holder.

It is intended to use a number of game devices equal to the number of playing cards in a pack and a container 6 is provided for holding all of the game devices on end with the pointed ends thereof projecting therefrom.

In using the invention the container 6 is agitated so as to shake the contents thoroughly. The game devices are then removed from the container, one or more. at a time for use by the players who then hold them in their hands with the colored surfaces 5 facing the holders. With the game devices thus located splints 2 are shifted relative to the splints I so that the designations on the splints l associated therewith will be exposed to the view of the holder. Thereafter the game can be played according to any recognized rules in the same manner as any card game.

What is claimed is:

1. A game including a container having an open top and a plurality of separate game pieces loosely mounted in the container, each of said game pieces including fiat splints of the same size and shape pivotally connected adjacent to their centers, one of said splints havin a blank inner side and means on its outer side to differentiate the splint from the other splint, there being data on the inner side of said other splint adapted to be completely concealed when the two splints are positioned one directly over the other, all of the splints being of a length slightly greater than the length of the container and said container being proportioned to be shaken to shuille the splints side and means on its outer side for distinguishing it from the second splint of the pair, there being value indicating means on the inner side of said second splint.

PETER 'I. OBRIEN. 

